Running back Terry Williams scored his first touchdown of the season as the visiting Calgary Stampeders came from behind to beat the Montreal Alouettes 12-6 on Thanksgiving Monday to clinch home-field advantage in the West Final.
The loss eliminated Montreal (3-12) from playoff contention and guaranteed the Hamilton Tiger-Cats a playoff berth in the CFL East.
Bo Levi Mitchell completed 20-of-34 passes for 199 yards and three interceptions as Calgary (12-2) extended its winning run to three games.
It was the first time this season that Mitchell failed to throw a touchdown pass.
Johnny Manziel, who’s still looking for his first CFL victory, went 18 for 29 for 250 yards and an interception for his best offensive performance of the season. Boris Bede kicked two field goals for the Alouettes.
Montreal has now failed to make the playoffs for a franchise-record four consecutive seasons. The Alouettes have not made the post-season since 2014.
Calgary went three quarters without scoring a single point. It’s the first time the Stampeders have more than one scoreless quarter in the same game this year.
Down 6-0 after 45 minutes of play, it took the visitors seven seconds in the fourth quarter to get on the board.
Capping off a drive that started at Calgary’s three-yard line, Williams punched the ball into the end zone from six yards out. The big play of the drive was a 39-yard pass from Mitchell to Juwan Brescacin.
Brescacin led both teams with 78 receiving yards.
Rene Paredes increased the Stamps’ lead to 10-6 with a 49-yard field goal with 8:37 remaining in the game.
A punt into the end zone with 1:55 left on the clock gave Calgary the 11-6 lead. A missed field goal by Paredes in the game’s dying seconds put the Stamps ahead 12-6.
Calgary had not beaten Montreal at Percival Molson Stadium in five games, dating back to July 12, 2013.
Montreal’s defence played one of its best games of the season but it just wasn’t enough. Chris Ackie, Branden Dozier and Dominique Ellis all got interceptions to keep Montreal in the game.
The Als defensive line also did their job in this one, sacking Mitchell three times in the game.
After a scoreless first quarter, Bede put Montreal ahead 3-0 with his first field goal of the game, from 44 yards out, at 12:17 of the second quarter. Bede added a 41-yard field goal right on the stroke of halftime as the Alouettes went up 6-0.